SAP-superabsorbent polymer
A superabsorbent polymer (SAP) is a water-absorbing polymer that can absorb and retain extremely large amounts of a liquid relative to its own mass. Water-absorbing polymers, which are classified as hydrogels when mixed, absorb aqueous solutions through hydrogen bonding with water molecules. A SAP’s ability to absorb water depends on the ionic concentration of the aqueous solution.
APPLICATIONS
When the sodium polyacrylate superabsorbent polymers come in contact with aqueous liquids such as urine, blood or exudate the polymer absorbs the water through the process of osmosis i.e., the superabsorbent particles act like semipermeable membranes, absorbing the water molecules and swelling considerably. In fact, one gram of superabsorbent can absorb several hundred grams of pure water and retain extremely large amounts of that water even under moderate pressure. Hence why these superabsorbers are so ideally suited for personal hygiene and incontinence applications as diapers and pads can be exposed to appreciable amounts of ‘body pressure’ whilst sitting or laying down.
Meat and fruit pads
Many meat packages in supermarkets now feature absorbent pads at the bottom of a tray to capture escaping juices from the meat. This serves two primary purposes. Firstly, it prevents the leakage of juices onto customers and the supermarket fridge/floor, enhancing cleanliness. Secondly, by effectively absorbing the liquid, these pads help inhibit the proliferation of microbes that could otherwise spoil the meat, contributing to the overall freshness and quality of the product.
Wound dressings
For chronic or acute wounds, such as arterial or venous ulcers, characterized by substantial exudate or blood discharge over an extended duration, specialized dressings incorporating superabsorbent polymers are employed. These dressings possess the ability to absorb and contain the exudate effectively. Due to their high capacity, they can remain in place for extended periods, minimizing the need for frequent dressing changes. This not only enhances patient comfort but also reduces the overall trauma associated with multiple dressing changes.
Medical/surgical pads
Medical pads containing superabsorbent material serve a diverse range of specialized applications within hospitals, laboratories, and other medical facilities. These applications span from pads on operating tables designed to absorb liquids released during surgery to spill pads utilized for mopping up various fluids released by patients on equipment or floors. Additionally, laboratories use pads to contain fluids associated with the testing of biological samples. The versatility of medical pads makes them crucial in maintaining cleanliness, managing fluids, and ensuring a hygienic environment across various healthcare settings.
Fuel and Oil Filtration / Separation (Dewatering)
Superabsorbent polymers exhibit a strong affinity for aqueous liquids but remain inert when it comes to oil-based liquids. This characteristic makes them highly effective in water absorption from various sources, including aviation fuel, gasoline, and diesel, when integrated into fuel filters. The selective absorption properties of superabsorbent polymers contribute to their usefulness in managing and separating contaminating liquids in fuel filtration applications.
Other uses include:
Wire & cable water blocking
Medical /surgical pads
Industrial aqueous waste disposal
Agriculture and horticulture uses e.g. seed coating or soil enhancement
Artificial snow for movies and theaters
Cement modifiers for civil engineering projects
Flood sacks
Ice packs
Gel Polymerization
The most common technique is a process called ‘Gel Polymerization’ wherein acrylic acid, sodium hydroxide, water, cross linking agents and UV initiators are all sprayed onto a moving belt inside a long chamber with a row of high intensity UV lights. The UV radiation forces the components to react on the belt and crosslink, thereby forming the sodium polyacrylate. The mixture swells up in the chamber into a ‘wet cake’ which is passed into a mill to be ground up and then conveyed to drying equipment. The dried superabsorbent granules can be further treated with additional ‘surface’ cross-linking agents to improve performance characteristics such as absorption capacity, rate of acquisition and permeability.
Suspension Polymerization
An alternative manufacturing technique is ‘Suspension Polymerization’. In this method the key ingredients; typically sodium hydroxide, acrylic acid, initiators, crosslinking agents and a surfactant are suspended in a tank reactor in an organic solvent. The acrylic monomer is insoluble in the solvent and reacts with the base to form cross-linked sodium polyacrylate polymer beads. The size of the polymeric beads is determined by close control of temperature, residence time, speed and type of agitator in the reactor as well as the concentration of the multiple additives. The emulsion is continuously drawn from the reactor and the spheres are filtered out of solution, agglomerated and dried. The organic solvent is recycled into the reactor. The dried superabsorbent polymer can be further processed at this stage with ‘surface cross-linking’ initiators to enhance critical performance factors. The SAP is then dried again and bulk packaged as required.
Solution Polymerization
A third common manufacturing process is called ‘Solution Polymerization’. The acrylic acid monomer is dissolved in a non-reactive solvent along with an initiator, sodium hydroxide and crosslinking agents. The reaction results in a polymer that is also soluble in the solvent. By careful control of the temperature and concentration of ingredients the desired degree of conversion can be achieved, without the bulk polymerization as in suspension polymerization. The excess solvent is removed and the ‘liquid superabsorbent polymers’ are ready for application. Typically for non-woven markets the polymeric solution would be applied to cellulose fibers, then the solvent is dried off leaving a superabsorbent coated fiber.
The protein in raw material powder binder force;
The powder particles together, scattered into the mesh structure of protein;
Make raw material (dough) forming dense surface bright and clean;
Material (dough) become stable colloid, thus avoiding the soluble starch leakage;
The moisture in wet sex is very strong, make the raw material uniform distribution, prevent dry;
Enhance the ductility of the material;
Grease composition is uniformly distributed in the raw powder, keep its stability.
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